Why opt to outsource?

The number of people working from home has risen to its highest level since records began according to the Office for National Statistics.

Nowadays, the business model for outsourcing certain roles or even whole departments has become commonplace.

As a freelancer, I know what the benefits are for me but what about businesses – what’s in it for them?

Cost savings

Of course, the main reason for outsourcing is down to financial savings. Companies can enjoy significant cost reductions as they spend considerably less on a freelancer than they would if they took on an in-house employee.

For certain businesses, it’s only possible to have a physical office if they have fewer in-house staff. The rest of their work is outsourced to freelancers. Some organisations decide to operate a virtual rather than physical office from the outset and outsource all their main roles. Others recruit more permanent employees as they expand.

From a company’s point of view, with a freelancer there’s no responsibility on their part for PAYE or providing benefits such as pension schemes, holiday and sick pay or private medical insurance. Freelancers are usually based from home, so there are no overheads in terms of office space and equipment.

Businesses also avoid the cost of having to train up new members of staff. A good freelance copywriter will keep up to date with best practices and usually has a wealth of tricks up their sleeve when it comes to marketing knowledge and SEO tactics.

Time savings

Working from a home office, I’m able to focus on a task without the distractions that arise in a busy office. Journey time is eliminated, and I can start and finish work as required.

When you outsource to a freelancer, you’re placing your work in the hands of a specialist in that field. I give my undivided attention to copywriting without having to worry about any other aspect of a business.

A freelancer will generally work harder to meet a client’s deadline than in-house staff. After all, we want our customers to keep coming back to us, but we have no guarantee that they will.

The collaborative tools now available and the speed of communication means remote working is just as attractive to employers as it is to employees. I certainly work at a pace never before possible, and my location is irrelevant to my various clients.

Technology advances

Writers have traditionally worked from home and sent in their copy/novel/article to their publishers. Historically, it’s not unusual for organisations to employ a writer in this way.

What has changed is the speed of communication. Technology has transformed the workplace and employers now have access to their staff via multiple channels. If you can’t get hold of them on the phone, try email or Skype.

Funnily enough, when I did work in an office, there were certain people who rarely left their desks. I never saw them, despite being just down the corridor, as they would communicate solely by email and instant messenger.

Aside from financial benefits, an advance in technology is now cited as the main reason given by businesses for their decision to outsource labour. The speed and availability of broadband means communication via email, Skype, instant messenger, etc. really is instant.

Plus, thanks to cloud computing, information is stored virtually and can be accessed from anywhere in the world at any time. Document sharing is fast, efficient and easy. The vast number of collaborative tools and hangouts means you can work with colleagues from across the globe.

The changing working landscape

The ‘job for life’ attitude has diminished over the years and is no longer valued in the way that it once was by either employer or employee.

A February 2014 report on Gen Y and Freelancing looked at the transformation of UK graduate career aspirations and what this means for businesses. Here is a key stat from this report:

Freelancing is now seen as a highly attractive and lucrative career option by 87% of students with first or second-class degrees.

The landscape of the office in 2015 has changed radically in terms of its shape and structure.